Dedicated to Gayatrikothuri

Question of the day: "Have u ever jumped from your bed to the floor and hurt ur head?"

"Something intertwines us, but it's not love. It's pain."

****

"And though I know it's not possible, I hope I can take care of this place like my mother did. I hope to do her justice." I say to the stuff as they clap. Today is my first day at Aragain. I am now the stores new owner. Or my mom's younger replacement, as Shorty puts it. I thought I'll be nervous, and I am, but only slightly. This mint shirt really boosts my confidence. (If you don't see the sarcasm in the last sentence, then you are an idiot.)

God I miss New York dresses. If the movers don't bring my clothes within the next 48 hours, I'll die. As the stuff disappears, Shorty comes at my side with a young boy close behind him.

"If this were a movie, right now would be the time when I come and tell you that the shareholders are not impressed that such an inexperienced person has inherited the business. But considering the fact that your uncle is our sole benefactor and since he's too busy cheating on his wife, he doesn't care what happens to this store." I laugh but the boy beside Shorty looks and uncomfortable.

Shorty's real name is Evan Chalamet and he's been part of this store for so long, that he's practically family and therefore knows all about our family dramas. So it's obvious someone outside our circle will find this unusual.

I raise my eyebrows and Shorty finally regains his manners. "Oh yes! This is Blyton, your mom's PA. I guess, he's yours now." Poor Blyton blushes at Shorty's words. This is what happens to me, too. I'm so pale-skinned that my reactions look amplified because of my dark hair. Blyton had dark hair and cute little green eyes.

"Don't worry, Blyton. I am not a gorilla like my mom." I joke to make him feel better, but it's true. My mom was a constant workaholic. I have to admit, I've got that from her.

"No, she wasn't, Ms. Audrey. I just hope you aren't." His words make me raise my eyebrows.

"Okay, that was a very generous way to talk to your boss." I try to warn Blyton and he gets the hint because he mutters a quick apology and scurries away. "Guess I am a gorilla after all."

Shorty laughs. "So, what do you want to check out?"

"The bakery department," I reply.

Shorty nods as he takes me to our destination. Aragain was started by my mom when I was around three. She had all kinds of weird jobs before and she wanted to do something on her own. My dad never paid for a single penny of my education or bills and so my mom had to do everything on her own. She was about a barista, a chef, a florist and a grocery store employee before she started her own business, Aragain. So she wanted to combine all four and here's the result.

Aragain is a place where dreams come true. (My mom's exact quote.) It has a two floor grocery store, an entire floor dedicated to a restaurant and one floor for the bakery. The 5th floor is a mix of a florist shop and a bookstore, because my books where close to my mom's heart. And mine. (Yes, I got a lot of my mom's qualities.) The 6th floor, which is basically the terrace is where there is a flower garden. Here photo shoots are supposed to take place. But that department's new and I have to work to do on it.

If you're wondering why the store's name is so weird, let me tell you a fact. We are native Canadians. And my mom wanted to represent that in the store. So she named the store Aragain, which is Niagara spelled backwards. Weird, I know. But my mom had a lot of values and she wanted to incorporate them ion our store.

When I enter the 4th floor bakery, I honestly feel like I have come to heaven because baking is my life. I bake when I'm happy. And I also bake when I am sad. And right now, I need this, because I'm so guilty for my behavior with Nan last night.

"Go away, let me breathe." I tell Shorty.

"Sure. Just don't forget your "friends get together."" he says with air quotes and leaves.

****

I don't know how I got myself stuck in Paste's organized get together. It seems like ever since I am back she desperately wants to reconnect the four of us. Don't get me wrong, I love Paste. But sometimes I think life is like a repair shop to her that she owns. Whoever shows up in it, she tries to fix them somehow.

"Zars!" Speak of the devil. "Come here." She motions to the table they're gathered round in the backyard. I smile and join them, trying desperately to keep my eyes of Naomi's bandaged head.

"I'll go get some hamburgers." Paste says and goes inside the house, leaving me and Naomi alone.

"What lie did you tell them?" I try not to sound rude.

"Hello to you too." Her calm and composed voice speaks of the volumes of sadness repressed underneath. I narrow my eyes and she answers. "Fell down the stairs while cleaning it. Ian took me to the hospital. Kai is on a trip. No one except Ian knows you came to my house last night."

I nod. "I see you have mastered the quiet-forever wife exterior." She looks at me pleadingly. I shake my head. "Where's Talia?"

"New Jersey." Lav, Paste's sister, says as she brings over the burgers. We hug as Jeremy and Ian come out of the house. I have always loved Lav. She's such a sweetheart. And to think she's finally found her soulmate in Jeremy. I was rooting for them since I was born.

Ian eyes me a little too long as I chat with Lavender. I pretend not to notice it, but man, I have eyes.

"I'll go get the beverages." Lav smiles and wanders off. I take a seat on the round table and soon Ian joins me.

"Mind if I sit?"

"Will you refrain if I say no?"

"Not really." he says and takes a seat beside me.

"I knew it."

"You didn't have to blow up on Nan like that yesterday."

"You really wanna do this now?" I turn towards him. He makes no move to respond so I take it as a yes, because I don't want to lose myself in his hazel eyes. "You're right. I didn't have to blow up on her and I felt very guilty for that too. But I am not sorry, Ian. Nan needed to hear those because now when I look at her with a bandage around her head that's covered by her red hair and a sadness in her blue eyes that was caused by a monster who is supposed to love her, I just want her to get out of that situation. And I thought my words would have helped her realize that. But apparently it didn't."

Ian sighs. "She's too infested. The thought of leaving him hurts her."

"I know. I don't understand, but I know. I just wish she would have thought about the baby."

"Yeah, me too." He put his hands on the table and I stare at them. He's got nice hands. Hands of perfect doctor.

"My mom always wanted me to get married as soon as I was of age. She particularly liked doctors. She used to say if she ever found a good doctor handsome and rich enough for me, she'll get me married to him the very next day." I smile and look at him and there's a pleased expression on his face. 'Doesn't mean I'm meant you though! I was just saying in general!"

"Yeah, sure. I get it." But the suggestive look from his eyes doesn't waver. I shake my head in frustration and he takes pity on me and changes the subject. "The things you told Nan about your parents yesterday...... who told you that?"

Guess he doesn't want to take on me. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I don't think your mom would've bad mouthed a man you have never met. And I've met her. She was awesome. Also, I want to unfold in mystery that's you."

"First of all, you're right. My mom wouldn't have done that. Though, my father made her life hell, she always held her love and respect for him. And she wanted me to do the same. And secondly, I am not a mystery." I make a face to let him know I'm confused why he would think that.

"Okay. But you didn't answer my question."

"Oh yeah, it was my uncle." His surprised expression doesn't shock me. "Don't be so astonished. When I was younger my young uncle and I were really close. I remember when I was around 7, I'd visit the part with him. One day a boy pushed me, and I got hurt. The boy apologized and I forgave him. That was the day Uncle Frank told me about the backyard story."

I look at Ian and there's a look of apprehension on his face that makes me want to continue and say more. "He told me to never forgive a man if he hit me. And I kind of stuck to it. Yet, as I grew up, uncle got more and more loaded with work. He abandoned us and his children and we grew apart." When I finish saying this out loud, I think of how I miss my old uncle Frank so bad. The uncle who doesn't cheat on his wife and loves his children and family.

Ian puts his hands on mine and I almost gasp as an unexpected surge of electricity shoots through me. I guess he meant it to be a simple gesture of comfort but didn't expect to feel like this when he touched me. Well neither did I. He opens his mouth to speak but..... yeah, you guessed it. He obviously gets interrupted by someone.

"Zara. Pastel. Hi." Nathan's voice causes me to jerk my hands away from Ian's. Paste and Nate hug and she sends me a wink. There goes Pastel with her repair shop again.

I smile at Nate when he approaches me he takes my hand. He kisses it as he takes his seat on the other side of me. I'm smiling but I can feel the murderous look of Ian boring into my shoulders.

Well, this should be fun.

A/N: What can i say? i just rlly, rlly wanted to update!

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